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| Headline |
Author |
Published |
Section |
Ash Ask
On burning paper |
Umbra Fisk |
19 Mar 2008 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, We heat our house primarily by wood, in an efficient, EPA-rated woodstove. My question is this: We recycle all of our paper, paperboard, cardboard, etc., but would it be better to burn it? As it is, we drive it to the recycle center, they ship it off somewhere, it is then processed, then shipped back out as a product. If we burn it, we get some heat, and ashes to spread on our garden. Which is better for paper -- recycling or burning ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, health, recycling, toxics (all these topics) |
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Collared Greens
How to green your pet |
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18 Mar 2008 |
From A to Green |
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| Topics: advice, animal welfare, consumerism, From A to Green, green living (all these topics) |
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Espresso Express
On transporting coffee by bike |
Umbra Fisk |
17 Mar 2008 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, Now that there are promises that the snow will melt someday, I'm dreaming about biking again -- to work, to the farmers' market, to church, etc. However, my sweet husband loves to make me coffee and send it with me when I leave the house. I have wonderful reusable coffee cups for the car, but how do I transport coffee on a bicycle without ruining it or me? Any bright ideas? Caffeine Appreciator Duluth, Minn. D ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, shopping (all these topics) |
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I Sink, Therefore I Am
On tap water |
Umbra Fisk |
12 Mar 2008 |
Ask Umbra |
| Umbra, I was wondering where the H2O from the tap comes from, and where it goes to. Beth Swarthmore, Pa. Dearest Beth, It comes from and goes back to the water cycle, which I've been reading a lot about in Richard Scarry's classic work What Do People Do All Day? The book answers the "where it comes from" question, but Scarry doesn't have so much to say about sewage. Lowly Worm does not get to travel through the toilet. Let ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, health, US EPA, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Cash and Carroty
On joining a CSA |
Umbra Fisk |
10 Mar 2008 |
Ask Umbra |
| Umbra, I have heard mention of community-supported agriculture programs but don't really know what they are. The name sounds very cool, but can you let me in on the specifics? Bryties Redding, Calif. Dearest Bryties, The springtime alarm is sounding, and your question is perfectly timed. Some of you might be experiencing hints of spring right now, some not (like me! I'm in a secret location where the all-time snowfall record is under t ... |
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| Topics: advice, agriculture, Ask Umbra, food, green living (all these topics) |
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The Bees' Needs
On organic honey |
Umbra Fisk |
05 Mar 2008 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I was looking for a nice, local, organic honey to use in reworking some recipes so that they didn't use sugar. So I headed to Whole Foods, and was stuck looking at a honey in a plastic container labeled organic from Brazil, and a local product in a glass container but not labeled organic. And I started wondering -- what makes honey organic? I mean, bees fly. How do you know what plants they ate or pollinated unless you've cag ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, food, green living, organic food, shopping (all these topics) |
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Joyz in the Hood
How to green your car |
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04 Mar 2008 |
From A to Green |
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| Topics: advice, cars, ecological footprint, From A to Green, green living (all these topics) |
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Pearly Writes
On pearl production |
Umbra Fisk |
03 Mar 2008 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I'm nearly drowning in jewelry ideas for my valentine, but wary of mined gemstones. Do you know anything about the ecological impact of cultured pearls, or the faux "shell pearls"? Swimming to the Surface Slowly Portland, Ore. Dearest SSS, I apologize for missing your Valentine's window, but you may have seen my wee notie regarding my inability to find pearls of wisdom on this topic. You would think I would just ... |
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| Topics: advice, aquaculture, Ask Umbra, green living, shopping (all these topics) |
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The Ripe Stuff
On organic bananas |
Umbra Fisk |
27 Feb 2008 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, Why are organic bananas always smaller and almost always greener than non-organic? BG Tallahassee, Fla. Dearest BG, Hmm. Fresh organic fruits and vegetables often differ in appearance from their conventionally grown kin. They're the hippies of the produce world: unwaxed, expressing their individualism, coming to the produce stand as they are, lumps and all. Although I notice this has changed some over the past couple decade ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, food, green living, organic food, shopping (all these topics) |
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It's a Wash
A review of six green laundry detergents |
Sarah van Schagen |
26 Feb 2008 |
The Bottom Line |
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| Topics: advice green cleaning green living green products health shopping The Bottom Line (all these topics) |
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Get the Hang Of It
On communal clothes drying |
Umbra Fisk |
25 Feb 2008 |
Ask Umbra |
| Hello Umbra! I'm a college student working to make my school greener and would like to purchase a few relatively sturdy, high-volume clothes drying racks to place in our laundry rooms so that students have an alternative to using the electric dryers. I know these racks exist because I just got back from studying in Italy for the semester and saw them all over, but I haven't been able to find anything good in 45 minutes of se ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, education, energy at home, green living (all these topics) |
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Of Vice and Men
Grist puts a green eye to sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll |
Sarah van Schagen |
22 Feb 2008 |
Grist Feature |
| Photo: iStockphoto "Sex and drugs and rock and roll are very good indeed." -- Ian Dury Green may be the flavor of the week, the word du jour, the go-to adjective for everyone from ad execs to activists -- but between you and me, researching all the do's and don'ts of eco-sainthood can get a bit heavy. In the midst of all this sobering work, sometimes a gal (even a green one) just w ... |
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| Topics: advice, consumerism, funnies, green living, music, sex (all these topics) |
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Sheath All That
On house siding |
Umbra Fisk |
20 Feb 2008 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I have been a homeowner for five years and gradually I am upgrading the 25-year-old house to be more green. I have finished replacing the single-pane windows with Energy Star-rated double-pane windows. Now I am turning my attention to the siding, since the roof is still in good shape. I have wood siding and there is a bit of rot (not to mention my puppy thought the house was a chew toy). I am trying to decide what is best bot ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy at home, green living (all these topics) |
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Perish the Thought
How to green your fridge |
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19 Feb 2008 |
From A to Green |
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| Topics: advice, energy at home, energy efficiency, food, From A to Green, green living (all these topics) |
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A hunk, a hunk of burnin' love
Why burning a vinyl album is a bad idea |
Sarah van Schagen |
16 Feb 2008 |
Gristmill |
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| Topics: advice, green living, health, music, toxics (all these topics) |
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My Three Sins
On avoiding vinyl |
Umbra Fisk |
13 Feb 2008 |
Ask Umbra |
| Hi Umbra! I've been in denial about vinyl. Blue Vinyl, the movie, got me thinking, but unfortunately I space out and lie to myself. I even have bought those recently popular adult toys that advertise as being vinyl in large unavoidable proclamations on the front of the box and I still managed somehow to think, "It is probably a different process for toys." After reading your article about the LPs, I realized just how bad I have ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, health, shopping, toxics (all these topics) |
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Hot Chocolates
A review of six eco-chocolate brands, for your Valentine's pleasure |
Tom Philpott |
12 Feb 2008 |
The Bottom Line |
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| Topics: advice agriculture food green living organic food shopping The Bottom Line (all these topics) |
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Chin Up
On staying positive |
Umbra Fisk |
11 Feb 2008 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I am a new but faithful reader of your excellent column. I've learned a lot, but one thing I've noticed is that there never seems to be an upside to the answers. Now, this may be just because the reality sucks so much, but it depresses the hell out of me and makes me feel hopeless about ever making a difference. Even your reply to the vinyl record guy left me feeling glum, as you told him to enjoy his records but that their dispos ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living (all these topics) |
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Sell Abrasions
On green-company buyouts |
Umbra Fisk |
06 Feb 2008 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, So glad you were ransomed. (I happily did my bit.) I'm worried that the gentle-on-the-environment start-ups are taking the money and running. First our favorite toothpaste, Tom's of Maine, sold out to Colgate (I think) and now Burt's Bees has become a product line acquired by a bleach company. Where do we turn for sparkling teeth and rosy cheeks? Irene Eatonville, Wash. Dearest Irene, May I split a few awapuhi-softe ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, business, consumerism, greenish companies, shopping (all these topics) |
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Sermon on the Mounting
How to green your love life |
Amy Linn |
05 Feb 2008 |
From A to Green |
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| Topics: advice, education, green living, sex (all these topics) |
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LP, I Need Somebody
On vinyl records |
Umbra Fisk |
04 Feb 2008 |
Ask Umbra |
| Umbra, I know that PVC is bad, and vinyl records are PVC (right?), but is there any harm in keeping the records I already have, or should I get rid of them? And if so, what's the best way to do so? I've recently been trying to phase out any "bad" plastics, including anything that leaches, and while I understand the danger of plastic leaching chemicals into a water bottle, is there anything all that bad about playing an old ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, health, music, toxics (all these topics) |
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Major Dilemma
On choosing a college |
Umbra Fisk |
30 Jan 2008 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I am a high school junior this school year. I am currently researching what college to attend. One major decision in your school choice should be choosing a college that is strong in the field of your study. I am interested in college majors that will translate into green jobs. I know about jobs such as sustainable architecture as well as a few others but I was wondering if you could give a thorough list! Tim Olney, Ill. ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, education, green living (all these topics) |
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Quick and Dirty
On paper plates |
Umbra Fisk |
28 Jan 2008 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, Maybe you can help settle this dispute between my husband and me. He likes to use paper plates for quick/short meals like toast in the morning, cheese and crackers in the evening, etc. He claims that he's saving energy by not having to wash a dish. (We have a new energy-efficient dishwasher and an on-demand hot water heater.) I say he's wasting paper unnecessarily, and besides, I hate seeing paper plates all over the place. Wh ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, ecological footprint, energy at home, green living, recycling (all these topics) |
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Tongue Tied
On leather vs. pleather shoes |
Umbra Fisk |
23 Jan 2008 |
Ask Umbra |
| Hi Umbra, As a devoted vegetarian, I try to make it a point to avoid leather footwear. However, after too many hours of deep thought on the subject, I am now conflicted about the environmental ramifications of my choice to buy processed petroleum shoes, i.e., pleather. Leather is, after all, a natural material; pleather is plastic. So is it better for the environment to put aside my veggie ethics in favor of a natural material, ... |
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| Topics: advice, animal welfare, Ask Umbra, fashion, green living, shopping (all these topics) |
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Java Good Time
A review of six Central American coffees |
Tom Philpott |
22 Jan 2008 |
The Bottom Line |
| Coffee surely counts as one of our more problematic daily pleasures. Java-slugging Grist readers should know that coffee deserves some of the blame for global warming. A lucid account by University of California-Santa Cruz historian Chris Brooks tells the sad story, which encompasses slave labor, razed rainforests, and the colonialism of the 19th century. Six competitors line up for their mug shot. Coffee rem ... |
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| Topics: advice, food, green living, green products, shopping (all these topics) |
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©2008. Grist Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. Gloom and doom with a sense of humor®.